Wednesday, 8 February 2017

Making Valentine's Day Special!*

*This is a collaborative post*

Let's talk about Valentine's Day. Because, whether you love it or you hate it, it'll soon be upon us. Supermarket shelves are lined with heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, and every card shop you enter is shoving lovey-dovey cards in your face. But don't fret if, like many others, you hate Valentine's Day. This time next week, the supermarket shelves will be lined with half-price chocolates. And a few days later? They'll be filled with Easter Eggs! So all is not lost. But back to Valentine's Day...In a survey of 500 people, Festive Lights found that 63% of respondents favoured staying in over going out on Valentine's Day. Reasons ranged from people feeling Valentines has become too commercialised, to the prices being hiked up for the holiday. If you're still feeling the pinch after Christmas (I hear ya!) or you just don't feel like going out to celebrate, I'm here to share a few tips on how to make Valentine's Day special without dressing up and dining out!

1. Make it hyggeligt. You must have heard of Hygge by now? If you haven't, familiarize yourself with the concept on Lily's blog; she has a great post about embracing Hygge! Basically, you want to make your home as cozy as possible; lots of soft blankets, candles, and a cup of tea (or hot chocolate!)

2. Cook a romantic meal. A few years ago, instead of going out as we usually do, I cooked a delicious roast dinner for the two of us. I laid the table (which we never normally use), lit some candles and poured some wine. It was magical, to be honest. There are some great romantic recipes on Jamie Oliver's website!

3. Plan some romantic viewing, or listening. Stick some Barry Manilow on the stereo, or pop on a romantic movie. After your delicious meal, you can cuddle up on the sofa under lots of snuggly blankets, the room lit by candlelight, and enjoy the tunes, or movie! Check out the romance category on Netflix for movie inspiration!

4. Switch off your phones. This might just be the most important tip of the bunch. Let's be honest, how often do you give your loved one your undivided attention? Not often, I'll bet. Your attention, like mine, is probably split between your other half and your phone. Give him the gift of your undivided attention this Valentine's Day and switch off your phone!

For more tips on how to make Valentine's Day special if you're staying in, check out this blog post from Festive Lights. And never underestimate the importance of lighting; low lighting and candlelight can make any evening in feel super special, and romantic!

How will you be celebrating Valentine's Day?

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All About Me!

I'm Aimee, 27 years old, and still waiting for my Hogwarts acceptance letter. I dream of turning my house into a library; one bookshelf at a time. If not found with nose in a book, please provide a book.